I had higher expectations when I started reading this. Over and over the authors state that we've ruined our guts which has now led to many disorders like asthma and allergies to name a few, with a list of do's and don'ts after each. Yet, many of the studies need more research and are inconclusive. Not only that, I hoped that I could learn about what I can do now to help myself and my kids. What should I eat? What should I drink? Supplements? Should we take a daily probiotic? No information was given on that, but I'm guessing it's a must.

The book does however explain all the things we're doing wrong. The importance of breastfeeding, playing outside, healthy diet and exercise etc. is emphasized. Overall, a book worth reading, but glad I didn't purchase it because it's a lot of reiterating known facts. ( )

Modern germ theory and medicial practices would easily have us believe that microbes are nothing but detrimental to human health. So it would surprise many to know that bacteria can be, not only beneficial, but also vital to health and well-being especially in the area of the human digestive tract. Think of it as a party - you want a group that is interesting and diverse while leaving out mooches and serial killers. Authors B. Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta set out to change our minds on the role of bacteria and our microbiome while also showing us what can be done to correct some of the imbalances that oversanitizing our environment has done.

From asthma to diabetes to mood disorders, the number of health issues that the microbiome affects is surprising. While this book focuses mainly on children, there is much here that an adult interested in health and well-being will find useful. The depth and breadth of the research was outstanding and I found the book to be a most enjoyable and informative read. I particularly liked the chapter explaining the health benefits of dogs as pets (and could imagine a number of children using the plea of "We need a dog - they're healthy"). I also appreciated the 'aside' information boxes at the end of many chapters - I found them to be quite enlightening.

I have to admit that there was a chapter in the book that I found less than enjoyable which I call the vaccine scolding chapter. Regardless of one's views on vaccines, the connection between vaccines and the human microbiome have not been strongly established (which the authors admitted) and I found the tone of the chapter to be stringent and harsh. As Dr. Finlay is one of the developers of the SARS vaccine I understand his strong feelings on the topic but I felt it was not the time or the place for what I felt was a lecture. It marred a book that I would consider to be some of the most cutting edge and important information in the area of human health.

Let Them Eat Dirt was an informative, and not overly scientific book (easy to read!) that helps explain that our world does not need to be totally free of microbes...that indeed, the immune system won't develop properly if it is never challenged. We don't need all the antimicrobial soaps and products that are on the market! And antibiotic overuse is causing problems, too. The book really covered a wide range of topics that discuss how our body needs microbes to function properly, especially the gut....and the ailments caused when things are out of balance, and what throws the balance off. Topics also include asthma and allergies, autism, vaccines, diabetes, and more. I especially liked how they tied in the importance of a healthy diet - rich in fruits, vegetables and meat, and low in sugars and processed foods -in keeping the balance in the microbes in our body. Overall a book with a wide variety of topics all related to microbes in our world, and that not all of them are bad! The fact that it talks so much about childbirth, infants & children's exposure to microbes and how a certain amount of that is actually healthy, makes it a great book for new parents who may tend to overprotect their young to the point of making them unhealthy! ( )

B. Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta, present a very cogent, scientific and clinical treatise on the role and importance of a healthy microbial world in and on us and our children to maintain and promote health. Wow.. What the heck does that mean... Let them eat dirt.!! Finlay and Arrieta tell us the why and how that microbes are important to our everyday life. They explain how these microbes in our guts and our skin interact with our immune systems, our bodily functions, our brains and behaviors and our resistance to dangerous microbes. This book is focused chiefly on childhood, a critical time for the establishment of health microbial colonization of our bodies. The lessons are, however for all of us reguardless of age. I too learned much from their work, one gift this pair of authors has is the ability to make the complex simple to understand. If my 8 year old patient understands then his parents will as well - thus patient compliance and better clinical outcomes. After reading this book I found myself wanting to read more - What are the interactions of the microflora with biochemistry of the ageing. Are there links between dementias and cardiovascular disease and microbiota? How can we eat better to maximize health gut flora? Can we slow ageing or reduce the incidence of disease of old age through modifying our microflora? The authors give us simple do and don't advice, debunk myths and "old Wives tales" with referenced scientific data. No this is not a scientific review article, but is a great read for the layman. When's the next book coming out?? ( )